Justin Bryant
Encyclopedia
Justin Bryant is an American
writer and former U.S. minor league soccer goalkeeper
.
in Radford, Virginia
. While at Radford, he played on the men's soccer team from 1984 to 1986.
. In 1987, He moved to England and signed with Boreham Wood FC. He returned to the U.S. that same year to play for the Orlando Lions
of the recently established American Soccer League
. In 1989, he moved to Scotland to play for Dunfermline Athletic
but was unable to obtain a work permit. In 1990 he returned to Boreham Wood FC, where he made 23 appearances for the reserve team. In 1995, he spent a single season with the Cocoa Expos
in the U.S.. The Expos reached the USISL Premier League final, where they lost 3-1 to the Richmond Kickers
.
, he wrote a novel, Season Of Ash
, published in 2004 by ENC Press
, and has continued to write, producing short fiction published in such literary journals as Thin Air, Chiron Review
, The Rockhurst Review and Snowbound. His work has also been anthologized by Gorsky Press, Spotted Cow Press and Key Porter Books
. He has written about soccer for Green Pitch Magazine, Red Issue
, and Bookable Offense. He is a graduate of the MFA Creative Writing program at New York University
, where he did his thesis with E.L. Doctorow. Bryant currently lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer and former U.S. minor league soccer goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
.
Youth and college
Bryant grew up in Florida, and attended Radford UniversityRadford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
in Radford, Virginia
Radford, Virginia
Radford is a city in Virginia, United States. The population was 16,408 in 2010. For statistical purposes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Radford with neighboring Montgomery County, including the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, calling the combination the...
. While at Radford, he played on the men's soccer team from 1984 to 1986.
Soccer
Bryant elected to pursue a career as a professional soccer goalkeeperGoalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
. In 1987, He moved to England and signed with Boreham Wood FC. He returned to the U.S. that same year to play for the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
of the recently established American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. In 1989, he moved to Scotland to play for Dunfermline Athletic
Dunfermline Athletic F.C.
Dunfermline Athletic Football Club are a Scottish football team based in Dunfermline, Fife, commonly known as just Dunfermline. They currently compete in the Scottish Premier League....
but was unable to obtain a work permit. In 1990 he returned to Boreham Wood FC, where he made 23 appearances for the reserve team. In 1995, he spent a single season with the Cocoa Expos
Cocoa Expos
Cocoa Expos was an American soccer team, founded in 1993. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home matches at...
in the U.S.. The Expos reached the USISL Premier League final, where they lost 3-1 to the Richmond Kickers
Richmond Kickers
The Richmond Kickers are an American professional soccer club based in Richmond, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Writing
In 1997, Bryant decided to give up his playing career, and moved to Elon College and completed his bachelor's degree in English. The college then hired him as the assistant coach for the women's soccer team. Based on an idea for a book he had conceived while visiting his father in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, he wrote a novel, Season Of Ash
Season Of Ash
Season Of Ash is a novel by American writer Justin Bryant, published in February 2004 by ENC Press of Hoboken, New Jersey.The novel tells the story of three South Africans and one stranded American dealing with the chaos and confusion immediately prior to Nelson Mandela being elected President of...
, published in 2004 by ENC Press
ENC Press
ENC Press is a small, independent publishing house founded in 2003, in Hoboken, New Jersey, by New York editor and writer Olga Gardner Galvin and California writer and PR maven Beth Elliott...
, and has continued to write, producing short fiction published in such literary journals as Thin Air, Chiron Review
Chiron Review
Chiron Review is a literary journal based in St. John, Kansas. It was founded as The Kindred Spirit in February 1982, by Michael Hathaway shortly after graduating high school and taking a job as typesetter at a local daily newspaper. In March, 1989, the title was changed to Chiron Review.Jane...
, The Rockhurst Review and Snowbound. His work has also been anthologized by Gorsky Press, Spotted Cow Press and Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books
Key Porter Books is a Canadian book publishing company. Founded in 1979 by Canadian publisher Anna Porter and Key Publishers Limited of Toronto, the company specializes in Canadian non-fiction, although it has published some fiction titles as well. A controlling share of the company was purchased...
. He has written about soccer for Green Pitch Magazine, Red Issue
Red Issue
Red Issue is a fanzine aimed at Manchester United supporters. The fanzine has been published monthly during the domestic football season since February 1989. The content of the fanzine is satirical - featuring jokes at the expense of Manchester United's own players in addition to their rival...
, and Bookable Offense. He is a graduate of the MFA Creative Writing program at New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, where he did his thesis with E.L. Doctorow. Bryant currently lives in Jersey City, New Jersey.